09/03/2020
CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES FOR THEY ARE OUR STRENGTH
A MESSAGE FROM HERU BAR-CHANAN
Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate you:
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Proverbs 9.8
THE HOLY ZAWADI NATION: "PEOPLE OF THE GIFT." The word "Zawadi" is Swahili for "Gift"; it is cognate with the Hebrew word "Zabdi," which means "Endowment." And, what shall I say is "The Gift"? "The Gift" is Black America's endowment with an endless wellspring of diversity and the inherent ability to unify at the right moment in History to bend the moral arc of History toward Justice. This Gift is a Grace from God. And who shall I say are The Holy Zawadi Nation? The Holy Zawadi Nation is an emerging royal society of Survivors of American Chattel Slavery who are committed to good governance, righteous unity, and excellence in teaching and learning. We are a loving, caring, sharing, people, striving to be a light unto the world.
There is more diversity within Black America than there is between Black Americans and the other groups in this country and the World. We were created by the Powers of Heaven, through the Forces of History, which brought together multitudes of diverse and sundry Peoples, and Religions, to forge a Super Race of Survivors in the crucible of American Chattel Slavery. Black America is the living manifestation of E Pluribus Unum ("Out of Many One"); and, in every generation, we boldly challenge The United States to make good on its founding promises. This makes Black Americans the USA's truest Patriots. We are the World Standard Bearers of the Human Quest of Freedom; we unite the People of the Earth with the inspiration of our art, culture, and spirituality, and with our mighty struggle for Human Dignity and Justice for all. This makes us America's, and World's, rightful Leaders.
We have these virtues because of our diversity and because of our ability to unify at the right historical moment; but our unity would have little meaning, value, or power if it were not for our diversity. Our differences are our strength, not our weakness; they are an asset, not a liability. We must stop down-talking the diversity within our Race. This is evil speech, which is talking in the spirit of ill-will. Good Speech, talking in the spirit of Goodwill, is the key to mediating and negotiating our differences. Evil speech is behind every violent conflict within our race. Although some differences, in principle, are irreconcilable, Good Speech can ameliorate most conflicts and bridge the gulf between most differences of opinion and perspective.
The way of Zawadi is that "Everyone has a gift to contribute; everyone gives according to their capacity; and, everyone's gift is valued and appreciated." So the question is not "Who is Black enough and who is not Black enough?" but "How do YOU do YOUR Blackness?" Let us take heart in the intrinsic value of each, and every, single one of us, and in the collective value of all of us, and celebrate our differences with One Love.
Blessed Be The Lord Most High,
HERU BAR-CHANAN
Prince & Priest of
The Holy Zawadi Nation
Album: Purified (Track 10)